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GP prescribes patients self-help books

Dr Jacqueline Gantley is taking part in a scheme to prescribe self-help books to patients with mental health problems.

GPs in Cardiff are issuing 'prescriptions' for books that cover a range of problems, including social anxiety, phobias, shyness, depression, obsession and panic.

The prescriptions contain a number the librarian can use to identify the book to avoid any embarrassment. GPs can also specify for how long the patient should borrow the book. 'I went to a local library recently and nearly all the books were out,' Dr Gantley said.

'What it's doing is giving an alternative to drug treatment or a referral to secondary care.'